Choose England@ Welbeck opted to pledge his allegiance to the Three Lions and not Ghana

Welbeck was capped for the first time by Capello in the friendly against Ghana in March, coming on in the 81st minute. His selection was controversial in Ghana, whose FA wanted the striker to represent them because his parents are Ghanaian.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has long considered  Welbeck a player with international potential and now he is seen by Capello as a serious  challenger to Carroll and Bent.

The 20-year old from the tough south Manchester area of  Longsight says he is already  living the dream after starting in the FA Community Shield and keeping his place.

‘There is no better feeling for a Manc kid than scoring for United,’ said Welbeck, who had to cope with the debilitating Osgood-Schlatter disease in his mid-teens.

‘I want more of it. Tom Cleverley and I were both at the academy for more than 10 years, so to come through and start in the first team is a massive achievement. We are so grateful to all the coaches we have had throughout the youth system. We will never forget them.’

United defender Chris Smalling described United’s potential as ‘endless’, while Patrice Evra, the skipper and senior figure at 30 against Tottenham, is just  as impressed.

‘A lot of people talk about the academy here, and the young players showed what they can do,’ said Evra. ‘They have such composure, it is amazing. They want to prove to the manager they are ready to play in the  first team.

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